THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
MARCH 3.
Rajiv Vijayaraghavan's `Margam' and `Padhom Onnu Oru Vilapam' directed by T.V. Chandran bagged as many as six of the Kerala State film awards for 2003.

The awards were announced by the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy, T.K. Rajiv Kumar, at a press conference here today.

`Margam' was adjudged the best feature film and `Padhom Onnu Oru Vilapam' the second best. Sibi Malayil gets the best director award for `Ente Veedu Appoontem'. Nedumudi Venu won the best actor award for his role of Venukumara Menon in `Margam' and Meera Jasmine the best actress award for her roles in `Kasthuriman' and `Padhom Onnu Oru Vilapam'.

`Ente Veedu Appoontem' won the award for popular film and Nemom Pushparaj got the award for best debutant director for `Gourisankaram'. P. Jayachandran was adjudged the best playback singer for the song, "Nee oru puzhayaayi...," in `Thilakkam' and the newcomer, Gayathri, the best female playback singer for "Enthe nee kanna...," in `Sasneham Sumithra'.

Best background music: Isaac Thomas Kottukappalli (`Margam'); best music director: M. Jayachandran (``Kannil kannil...'' in `Gourisankaram'); best editing: Ranjan Abraham (`CID Moosa'); best art director: Baava (`Mullavalliyum Thenmavum', `CID Moosa'); best sound recordist: N. Harikumar (`Margam'); best processing laboratory: Jemini Colour Lab (`Mullavalliyum Thenmavum'); best makeup man: Salim Kadakkal, Saji Kattakkada (`Gourisankaram'); best costume designer: Manoj Alappuzha (`CID Moosa') and best dubbing artist: Chottanikkara Baby (`Gourisankaram'). `Nishadam', produced and directed by Madhu Ervankara, was selected as the best documentary and `Guda', produced by K. Habeeb, won a special jury award for highlighting the exploitation of Adivasis. Special awards were given to P. Sreekumar for his role in "Padhom Onnu Oru Vilapam', Meera Krishnan for her role in `Margam' and Bobby and Sanjay for the script of `Ente Veedu Appoontem'. The jury gave a special mention certificate to Santhi for her performance in `Guda'. The award for cinema-related book was given to `Nizhalchithrangalude Porul' written by Rajan P. Thodiyur. `Erappalikalude Vaathaseetheekarana Muri' written by G.P. Ramachandran was adjudged the best article on cinema. Special awards were also given to `Thirakkatharachana- Kalayum Siddhanthavum' written by Jose Manual and `Magikkorukkunna Madhyamam' written by M.F. Thomas. No award was given in the children's film category as there was only one film for the competition. However, a special mention and citation would be given to Arun Sathyan for his role in the film, `Ente Veedu Appoontem'.

The members of the jury, John Paul, A. Ananthapadmanabhan, Vidhubala, C. Ramesh Kumar, Srikumari Ramachandran, Biju Viswanath and Pavithran were also present at the press conference.